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>> Thursday, November 29, 2007

We will find wonderful gifts somehow. But who have really deserved them this year? Ask the children. They never lie.

E-Poll Market Research has done that. A leading authority in celebrity and brand research, as they claim themselves, conducted a nationwide survey among 1,107 kids 2-17 to explore today's attitudes about nice, naughty, and the age old question of who makes Santa's list. This is what kids had to say in their own words:

Britney Spears (photo on the right) claimed top "naughty" honors with both younger and older children, followed by Paris Hilton. Britney and Paris beat out Swiper the Fox (from Dora the Explorer), the Grinch and Darth Vader among kids 2-12 and topped Lindsay Lohan and Beyonce among teens.

What should nice kids get? "Anything they want!" was the overwhelming response. On the other hand, rehabilitation has replaced coal as the theme for naughty kids. Maybe it's due to environmental concerns, or hedging their bets for future lists, but kids feel that the naughty ones should at least receive one present and "get another chance to do good for next year."

What gifts do kids want most? Kids 2-12 mentioned "Dora the Explorer'" "Hannah Montana" and "Barbie" as their top choices. While teens 13-17 mentioned "Wii," "X-Box 360," "money" and a "new car" as the gifts they desired the most this holiday season.

What can we learn from our kids? When asked what gift they would most like to give, kids cited "hugs," "kisses" and "love." Older kids also believe that "you should always be willing to help someone."

METHODOLOGY: This online survey was conducted among a nationwide, representative sample of 1,107 kids 2-17 from November 2-7, 2007. Results based on the total sample are considered accurate at the 95% confidence level, within +/- 2 percentage points.

>> Wednesday, November 28, 2007

As we've got started looking for tops of gifts, let's go on. About.com suggests top 10 of business gift baskets. Of course, the primary function of the kind is to remind Your business partners of You. However, You can copy or upgrade the idea and use it in Your personal life. For example, You won't be able to pay a visit to Your relatives or friends this year. Therefore, a nice gift basket would be a great and original compensation. It was published as a top, but I threw away the numbers and places. I believe it's a matter of taste and everyone can create his or her own. top

Corporate Elite Gift Basket

What could be better than a gift basket full of palate-pleasing gourmet treats? A gift basket full of gourmet treats that includes a bottle (or two) of wine. Choose from Cabernet, Chadonnay or Merlot. The bottles come presented in a gold-tassled velvet wine sack nestled in a woven wood and bamboo trunk with a caviar, brie cheese, smoked salmon, crackers, gourmet flavored Cappucinos, and pistachio nuts.

Gourmet Foods Gift Basket

Giving your gift basket recipient a taste of luxury is a great way to show your appreciation. This no-fruit version of the corporate gift basket includes summer sausage, sweet biscuits, gourmet cheeses, mustards and other upscale goodies, packaged in an attractive basket.

Blooming Gourmet Gift Basket

When I'm looking for a gift basket to send to clients or customers, I'm always looking for something different that's going to stand out from other gift baskets the recipient may receive. This Blooming Gourmet Gift Basket is a good example; beautifully arranged carnations, lilies, and asters dress up a mouth-watering collection of chocolates, cookies, cheese and crackers.

Wrap-sody in Red Gift Tower

What are the two things that make a gift tower a winner? An attractive presentation and an array of delectable treats. The Wrap-sody in Red scores top points in both categories. A collection of red leatherette boxes open to reveal vanilla caramels, chocolate truffles, chocolate-covered marshmallows, white chocolate-covered pretzel balls, red and green Christmas hard candies and more. Perfect for holiday season giving.

Juniper Bonsai Gift Basket

Here's a different approach to the business gift basket idea; instead of food, show your appreciation with a Juniper Bonsai, a small shrub sculpted into a work of art. Juniper has a particularly pleasing scent and color and is evergreen. Any of the juniper bonsais on this page will make a beautiful addition to anyone's office or home.

Single Rose Gourmet Gift Basket

Its not just what's in a gift basket but how it's presented; you want your gift basket to impress your clients or business associates with its good looks as well as its tasty contents. This Single Rose Gourmet Gift Basket fills the bill admirably. Each attractively trimmed basket is brim-full of treats such as gourmet cheese, crackers, sausage, chocolates, and candies. (Exact contents may vary as each basket is created individually.)

Bountiful Fruit and Gourmet Gift Basket

It's hard to beat the traditional fruit and gourmet gift basket when it comes to choosing a business or corporate gift basket. They're not only attractive, but contain enough variety of food that you're sure to please the recipient's taste buds. This example is truly a classic, with a bountiful assortment of seasonal mixed fresh fruits, cookies, crackers, candies, cheese, jams, or similar gourmet goodies, spilling out of a wicker basket.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Gift Basket

There's something particularly irresistable about the combination of strawberries and chocolate - especially when we're talking about dark, milk or white chocolate sprinkled with almonds, coconut, mini-chocolate chips and double-dipped, a feast for both the eyes and the tongue. If the recipients are chocolate lovers, send them a box of these rather than a gift basket.

Winter Wonderland Gift Basket

Clients, customers, office staff, business associates – any or all of them would appreciate receiving this festive gift basket, sporting a collection of red carnations, white chrysanthemums, gerberas, holly and pinecones in a wicker basket tied with a red and green ribbon. It's like getting a shot of holiday spirit!

>> Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Originality is very important to the gift. But sometimes they are too original...Therefore the web site Stupid.com gives the top 10 "stupidest" holiday gifts for 2007. However, the site creators claim finding a truly stupid gift is an art form and the gifts from top are "so ridiculously stupid that everyone will want them".

This link appeared on Yahoo page which quoted "Reuters" and maybe because of the flash rise of popularity Stupid.com became temporarily unavailable today. So the text is taken from Yahoo:

1. Mistletoe To Go

In the mood for love but on the go? Consider this portable mistletoe. This attractive arrangement of faux mistletoe comes with a suction cup that attaches to your forehead.

2. The Hillary Nutcracker

Love her or hate her, this is a new take on Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton who, in holiday tradition, is made into a nutcracker.

3. Slingshot Monkey

The Slingshot Monkey is a stuffed monkey dressed like a superhero. It flies up to 50 feet and screams along the way.

4. Larry Craig Action Figure

The talking Senator Larry Craig action figure wears a T-shirt with his declaration: "I Am Not Gay." His limbs are bendable and he delivers a portion of his news conference after pleading guilty to lewd behavior in an airport bathroom.

5. Uncle Oinker's Gummy Bacon Candy

One of America's favorite smoked-meat product has been reproduced as a candy. Uncle Oinkers Gummy Bacon comes packaged the same way as real bacon and even looks like real bacon.

6. Inflatable Moosehead

No need to go through the expense and trouble of tracking down a moose and shooting it dead when you can simply buy an inflatable moose head for the trophy wall.

7. Electronic Yodeling Pickle

The electronic yodeling pickle is a 6-1/2" plastic pickle with a high-tech interior. When you press the pickle's button

it belts out a yodel reminiscent of the Swiss Alps.

8. Poo-lar Bear Candy

It's a plastic polar bear that you fill with candy poop so when you press down on the bear's hind quarters, he poops out a tasty treat.

9. Get Off the Phone Excuse Machine

If you have trouble getting off the phone from some people, this small electronic device could be the answer. Press a button for "Whoops, there's the door" or "I can't hear you, you're breaking up," and you can get off the hook.

10. USB dancer

This bikini-wearing dancer plugs into your computer's USB port and audio port and when sound plays on your system, she dances and gyrates around the pole.

>> Saturday, November 24, 2007

Gifts for children is very deep and vast topic but today I am going to be short. There are two main aspects You should think of and both are related to the fact that a child is in first stage of life. Therefore:

1) Presents should influence kids optimistically and mould positive attitude towards life (oh, yes, they still have chance to believe in beautiful life and successful destiny). Because of that gifts should be colorful, vivid and cheerful.

2) Beauty and liveliness is only one side of the coin. Even more important is an educational and function cause a game is perhaps the best way to learn and to develop. So the puzzle or compendium of games will be a great choice. If You notice a child tends to sports, present him/her the equipment for table football or ice hockey.

>> Wednesday, November 21, 2007

As I have mentioned once, indeed a present isn't something material. When we are giving gifts we are approaching to something magic, magic in a good sense of this word. The main idea is that gift or present is the transfer of something, without the need for compensation. And today is great chance to experience it.

Today we are celebrating the World Hello Day and anyone, who wants to participate in this huge festival, need only to greet other people. And the matter is not only about celebrating, to my mind. It's a way of discovering that everyone of us has that small, unpaid but priceless gift to others - word of five letters " Hello".

Well, ok, enough for sentiments. Let's go to the amusing part of this post:

And now, here we have a historical part:

We are celebrating the 35th annual World Hello Day this year. Anyone can participate in World Hello Day simply by greeting ten people. The day was originated by brothers McCormacks from Arizona in 1973.

That fall Egypt and Israel were in serious conflict and world couldn't stay calm. As the legend tells, Brian McCormack and Michael McCormack by surprise met each other in Nebraska. They were so happy and, what is more, so concerned about the peace in the world, that decided to mark this encounter.

They sent the greeting letters to their friends and acquaintances all around the world. The letters contained no ideological hints, just greetings and wishes and gentle asking if the receivers could give regards to at least ten other persons. The idea spread around the world and now people are celebrating World Hello Day in more than 180 countries.

So, to be a "true" celebrator, one should greet at least ten people. However, in my opinion, it's not most important. Just say "hello" to others and bring them the main message: personal communication helps to preserve peace.

In the end, I should say "Bye", shouldn't I? But today I say "Hello":)

>> Monday, November 19, 2007

Don't get me wrong but I have to greet You:) Not me only. And the

too. This organization has announced the 19th of November as World Toilet Day. However, it's not as funny as it sounds.

World Toilet Organization was founded in year 2001, generally by the man, called Jack Sim. He felt that WCs were a neglected subject and there was much to be done. This idea led him to establish the Restroom Association of Singapore in 1998. After three years J.Sim he decided to reach the new aim - to raise the standards of public toilets not only in Singapore but all around the world. Now this organization unites the various toilet associations on Earth.

Set aside humor, there are still some greetings to be expressed. I can greet You if You are able to use a normal toilet, because about 40 percent of the world's population isn't. And this is one of main reasons for infectious diseases spread. Therefore World Toilet Organization invites everybody to repair, to clean neglected public toilets or to build new ones.

On the other hands, offbeat details cannot be hushed up. For example, did You know that in former times in some countries the nobility had more reason then alone luxury to have plenty estates? It was very natural. Once a wide party of blue-blooded would settle in the mansion, the surroundings would become "full" very soon and the smell would got familiar but not very good...So the whole party were forced to move from one estate to another regularly.

>> Saturday, November 10, 2007

Recently I had a pleasure to visit Belgium. On a casual nice evening I was driving my trolley in the store and suddenly I saw THAT for the first time this year. It was a woman. Not ordinary woman. She had THAT. She was carrying a few little toys. For Christmas, I got aware it momently. We all are able to sense THAT in a moment. That's how I encountered with a Christmas shopping for the first time this year. Of course, I wasn't the first. And soon everybody will go for THAT... Don't You feel familiar with those in this video?

And even more sooner everybody will catch themselves in the deep deep thinking whether Charlie will be happy to get this, does Liz want that and so on. Some people love searching for Christmas gifts. But the majority certainly doesn't. Ant this sense leads into tiresome wandering in the shopping malls and saying goodbye to the hope of finding something.

STOP! Stop thinking so! It isn't so difficult as it seems at the first glance. Everything should be different this year. Ok?

We'll start with the most unoriginal (but still lovely) gifts and then go further.

Gifts for every case of life.

Don't agonize and buy things which are need by everyone. I personally don't know a man who doesn't need at least one of these: tie, shaving gear, T-shirts, muffler, a bottle of qualitative vodka or whisky (Maybe Robinson didn't need them, but I hadn't acquainted with him). What is more, look here.

Woman always will find a way to use lipstick, perfume, jewelery or cosmetics. Read here, of course.

Are You not happy? No problem. Let's go further.

Usefulness and practicalness

Many people presents the things which are useful to themselves. It's a little bit selfish but You also have friends who are doing this, I can swear. Except You don't have friends. So don't get too surprised when You get a CD, a PC game a book or something else, which soon will be borrowed. Then You will have a moral reason to do the same. You already have, I could guess.

However, there is a kind of selfish presents which still remains perfect. A practical girl is always able to present a wonderful New Year's Eve where the most important present is she, wonderful and unforgettable.
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